School Focused Youth Service

Supporting at-risk young people through education.

What is it?

The School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) works in partnership with schools and community service providers to support students from grade 5 to Year 12 who are attending school but vulnerable to or showing signs of disengaging from school.

Who can access this service?

All government, Catholic and independent schools from the Merri-Bek Local Government Area.

Cost

Merri Health receives funding from the Department of Education to work with schools to deliver these services. Services may involve targeted interventions for a small at risk group of students and/or professional development to build capacity of schools to better support these students.

Do I need a referral?

No, however if you're a school in the Merri-Bek Local Government Area and would like support with students, call us.

Location

Schools located within the Merri-Bek Local Government Area.

Make a booking

Call 1300 637 744 (MERRI H).

More information

Community Referral Poster for Children, Youth and Families in Merri-bek

What can we help with?

Through SFYS, the Department of Education funds Merri Health deliver two types of services to a small cohort of students at risk of disengaging from education:

Targeted interventions to support students to improve their social and emotional skills, experience success, foster greater self-esteem, develop more positive attitudes towards learning and increase connectedness to school.
Professional development aimed at increasing school ability to support their students.

School Focused Youth Service also facilitates supportive networks, develops collaborative projects, and helps to improve the current service system and service gaps for young people in Merri-Bek.

Who do we work with?

SFYS doesn't work with students directly, instead we partner with local education providers to support at-risk students. We partner with:

all government, Catholic and independent schools within the Merri-bek Local Government Area
complementary education services funded by the Department
community health organisations and groups
Family support services
Local government
Youth services
other Victorian government agencies, including Victoria Police, the Department of Health and The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

What can I do if someone at my school needs help?

If you're a school and would like to know how we can help or talk to us about what's happening, call us on 1300 637 744 (MERRI H).

If you're a young person that needs help, come and see our drop-in service. It's free and confidential. We'll link you in with the right service.

This service is funded by the Victorian Government's Department of Education